MOTORISTS using a busy route into Birmingham city centre are to get their own express lane - but only if they have at least one passenger and travel in the morning.

The city's first designated car share lane will open next month along a three-mile stretch of the A47 Heartland Parkway, from Spitfire Island at Castle Bromwich to the inner ring road at Ashtead Circus.

The 12-month congestion-busting experiment is costing the city council £260,000.

But it will only operate during the morning rush hour, a decision described as "bizarre" by environmentalists who also questioned the choice of route.

Chris Crean, a spokesman for Birmingham Friends of the Earth, said the A47 was one of the "least trafficked" roads in the city.

Police will hand out £60 fines to anyone contravening the restrictions.

Len Gregory, cabinet member for transportation and street services, said the experiment was part of a concerted effort to tackle congestion and should reduce journey times for car sharers and pollution.

Coun Gregory (Con Billesley) added: "We will carefully monitor the scheme and collate information relating to journey times and safety so that we can measure the benefits or otherwise of the pilot, which if successful, could lead to more car share lanes in other parts of the city."

The idea was given a cautious welcome by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jerry Blackett.

Mr Blackett, who chairs the West Midlands Business Transport Group, said he wanted to see bus lanes used for car share schemes.

He pointed out that car sharing along the A47, which is a dual carriageway, would effectively reduce by 50 per cent the amount of road space available for vehicles carrying one person.

Mr Blackett said: "This does, however, send the sort of behavioural message Birmingham needs to send if it is going to convince people in London that it is serious about dealing with congestion."